Smartphone use by people with dementia: An exploratory survey

Introduction: Digital technologies are increasingly used in the delivery of health and social care, and by the public, to foster a decentralised approach to healthcare provision and encourage self-management. If new technologies and related innovations are to be successfully applied to support people with dementia, it is important to understand the views and needs of people with dementia alongside those of theircarers. This is an under researched area and this study focuses on smartphones to better understand how these devices are used by people with dementia and their carers.

Objectives: To undertake a national survey of people with dementia and their carers to explore their experiences and opinions relating to the use of smartphones in people with dementia.

Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional survey (12 questions) with participants recruited via two UK-based dementia research registries. Descriptive and inferential statistics assessed smartphone ownership, usage patterns, and challenges.

Results: There were 719 respondents (276 people with dementia, 443 carers). Among smartphone owners (47.7%), only 39.4% used devices for dementia management: 89 people with dementia and 19 carers (reporting for people with dementia), mainly for memory support. For safety and independence, 52.8% used smartphones, primarily for communication (128 people with dementia, 44 carers). Key barriers included setup difficulty (people with dementia) and complexity concerns (non-owners), with moderate concerns over fraud/theft.

Conclusion: Despite availability, smartphones are underused in dementia care. Improving usability, , nuanced smartphone functionality (and app co-design), and enhancing accessibility are essential to reducing digital exclusion and improving care engagement.